Changeable updating rule promotes cooperation in well-mixed and structured populations

Abstract Information asymmetry makes individuals rely on different criteria when updating strategies. We combined the Fermi and aspiration process into a changeable process. Our aim is to study how individuals change strategies based on the selection of updating rules and how this affects the evolution of cooperation in public goods game. Our analytical and simulated results indicate that the changeable process indeed can effectively promote cooperation both in well-mixed and structured populations. A striking finding is that the cooperation level is a nonmonotonic function of the aspiration value in the structured population when the social dilemma is weak. Too high probability that individual adopts the aspiration process will impede the evolution of cooperation for low aspiration value. Conversely, it will enhance the evolution of cooperation for high aspiration value.